Pedestrian killed in crash remembered as ‘calm, steady presence’ in local charities

More than a day after she was struck and killed in a west-end crosswalk, those who knew 77-year-old Agnes Morgan are remembering her as a life-long volunteer, with a giving spirit.

Friends told CTV News Morgan spent much of her life helping those in need, she volunteered with the Greater Edmonton Alliance – and helped advocate for sustainable food production in the city, even while Edmonton is expanding.

It’s that presence other organizations will miss as well – as she had also served with the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign for several years.

“She was a volunteer with us back at least as far as 2005,” Captain Pam Goodyear said in a phone interview from Calgary.

Her work didn’t stop there either; she was also a long-time volunteer with the United Church in Edmonton.

“She was a very giving person, and certainly at Ebenezer United, she was part of the church women there,” Jo-Ann Wilson Symonds said. “Very involved in everything they did there, so we certainly lost a good church person.”

Morgan died Monday evening, after she was hit by an alleged drunk driver as she crossed the street at the intersection of 110 Avenue and 156 Street, after 3 p.m. Monday.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at about 3:20 p.m., and found the woman suffering from serious injuries – she was rushed to hospital, but passed away hours later.

“Sadly the 77-year-old pedestrian ended up succumbing to her injuries at about 7:00 last night,” Acting Sgt. David Green said. “The driver was taken for breath testing, and ended up providing two samples double the legal limit and was accordingly locked down in cells overnight to await a bail hearing thereafter.”

Police said Tuesday Sivakumar Devarajah, 53, of Edmonton had been charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death, and driving over the legal limit, causing death.

It’s believed the woman was inside a marked crosswalk when she was hit.

Friends said she used public transit to get around, and believe she had been making her way home when the collision happened – she lived less than two blocks away from the intersection.